The North East Marine Region of the Angling Trust are holding the first North East Kayak Angling Championships on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2013. Fishing times on both days are 10 am to 3 pm with weigh in between 3 pm to 4.30 pm. Registration and weigh in is at the Fort House Education Resource Centre, Links Road, South Beach, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 3PQ. Entry is £10 each day, all classes. Competitors must register from 8 am at Fort House. This is a Heaviest Single Fish Competition and there will be a good prize list each day. The heaviest single fish taken on the Saturday will win a Typhoon Angler Kayak, donated by Moonfleet Angling, Felling and on the Sunday the first prize is a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 120 Kayak donated by North East Kayaks and Paddles, Amble. There will also be a prize for the heaviest flatfish and a Junior prize each day. There will be an excellent Prize List each day, with sponsors by Lewis Tackle, Whitley Bay ; Vass ; Boat Fishing Monthly ; Shimano ; Tronix Pro ; Fladen ; Kayak Shack, Hornsea ; Simon Everett ; Red Gill Lures : Sakuma : Total Sea Fishing : Sidewinder Lures : Diawa Sports : Shamrock Tackle, Ireland, and others, yet to be confirmed.
Competitors can launch and fish from the Boat House, Whitley Bay, Blyth Beach and Church Point, Newbiggin. No competitor will be allowed to launch until after the safety talk at 9.30 am each day at the three launch points. All kayaks will be inspected for safety equipment before launching and any not deemed to be properly equipped will be refused entry to the competition. Any competitor not having ship-to-shore radio will be asked to “buddy up” with someone who has. Safety boats will be in attendance throughout the two days. The R.N.L.I. will be carrying out free safety checks on life jackets and bouyancy aids. Competitors may use two rods – one for artificials, i.e. shads etc. and the other for bait fishing limited to three hooks on each rod.
The Committee of the North East Region of The Angling Trust are grateful to the Members of the South Beach Residents Association Angling Club for their kind offer to carry out the weigh in on each day.
Blyth’s Lady Mayoress will be presenting Prizes and Trophies after the weigh-in on Sunday.
Free camping and caravan facilities can be booked by contacting the Coastal Warden, Arthur Cranson on 01670-797323 or email arthur.cranson@northumberland.gov.uk. Showers and toilets will be available on site. There is also a fish-and-chip shop and restaurant next to the regisistration point. Free barbeques will be available for competitors to use. Free tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available for competitors.
Trade stands will be on site, which will bring added interest from the general public.
• Moonfleet Angling, Felling (0191-4381555) will have items of fishing tackle on sale and also a selection of their boats.
• The Kayak Shack, Hornsea (01964-562203) will also have a stand with kayaks and equipment available.
• North East Kayaks and Paddles, Amble (01665-714039) will have a large selection of kayaks and equipment. They will also have some of their instructors and demonstration kayaks available for anyone wishing to try these craft out.
• The RNLI and the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen will have stalls selling their products.
• The North East Region of the Angling Trust will have a stand to encourage new members.
Competitors will be asked to donate any unwanted fish and a filleting demonstration will be given with the fillets being given to spectators for donations to the R.N.L.I.
There is plenty of free parking at the registration point, with easy access to the beaches. There is a charge for parking at Whitley Bay.
Postal bookings can be made.
For further details, and postal bookings, please contact Sam Harris on 0191-5184561, email samharris01@aol.com or Peter Mantle on 0191-4887421.